Born from years on the ground coaching youth basketball across Bristol, a new movement is officially launching this May, and Bristol's young players are about to feel it.

Bristol has a new name in basketball. Southwest Warriors CIC, the community interest company built from the foundations of RG Basketball Development, officially launches on 1 May 2025, bringing serious, high-quality youth coaching to locations across the city.

The driving force behind it is no secret to anyone who has been around Bristol basketball. Head coach Rodney Gear, known across the city for years of grassroots development work under the RG Basketball and Bristol Flyers Community Programme banner, is bringing that same energy, commitment, and coaching philosophy into something bigger. Alongside him is specialist coach Deimantas Najulis, whose technical expertise and passion for player development makes this one of the most credible coaching setups youth basketball in the Southwest has ever seen.

"This is not a fresh start. It is the next chapter of work that has been building for years."

Southwest Warriors CIC operates as a community interest company, which means every pound generated goes back into the programmes, the players, and the partnerships that make the game more accessible. From school clinics and community hubs to holiday camps and seasonal competitions, the ambition is to reach young people across Bristol at every level of the game.

The coaching approach sets Warriors apart. Using the Constraints-Led Approach, sessions are built around game-like situations that develop decision-making, creativity, and real basketball intelligence. No repetitive drills. No passengers. Just players being challenged to think, adapt, and compete.

Coming up this summer, the RG Basketball Camp for players aged 12 to 16 returns under the Southwest Warriors CIC umbrella, featuring expert coaching, small-sided competition, and a holistic focus on fitness, nutrition, and physical development. Spaces are limited and expected to fill fast.

This is Bristol's moment. The game is here. The coaches are ready. Now it is your turn.

Sessions launch across Bristol from 1 May 2025. To book your place or find out more, visit the Southwest Warriors website or join via Spond.